This page discusses the theme of slavery displayed throughout the book. It explains the theme in different ways. This is because it is a major theme, which is easier understood by the reader if it is explained twice in different ways.
The effect of slavery on African Americans
In Beloved, Sethe demonstrates the theme of how slavery has affected the lives of African-Americans. Even after slavery, Sethe remains disturbed and fearful of her past. The experience has affected her mentally and emotionally as well. Because of this, Sethe attempts to forget her past but the memories of slavery are instilled in her everyday life. For example, the baby ghost of 124 Bluestone Road forces Sethe to be constantly reminded of killing her third child to save her from the fate of slavery. The chokecherry tree scars on her back is a physical reminiscent of her abused past – the scars caused by being whipped. Even the presence of Beloved triggers unwanted recollections, causing Sethe to become deeply depressed by the end of the book. Although Sethe herself does not explicitly talk about the theme, the emotions and thoughts she has implies it.
Sethe herself represents a society of post-slavery African-Americans, especially women. The murder of her child was not uncommon among other mother slaves. Many other African-American slaves killed their children to save them from living a slave’s life. The emotional pain Sethe endured after slavery would reflect other slaves’ emotions as well of trying to forget their past. The difficulties Sethe went through in attempt to forget could be applied to many other slaves, although not necessarily with the same factors.
Living in the past
One of the many of themes in beloved I believe to be is how the past lives of slaves live with them in their present, phsycologically effecting them. This is mainly seen through two paticular characters: Sethe and Paul D.
Narrator quotes speaking of Sethe ''her brain was not intrested in the future. Loaded with the past and hungry for more, it left her no room to imagine, let alone plan for more, the next day''
Toni Morrison writes the book so that the reader realises what sethe had to deal with growing up as slave, all her past history. In the context what all slaves during that time period had to live and cope with everyday they woke. But what I find most intresting is that Toni Morrison brings this ghost by the name of Beloved who is an embodiment of the past into her present. This highlights for the reader the burden of the past. In Sethe's case what haunts her most, is the act of infaticide she commited. When Beloved appears Sethe grows to fully believe that beloved is the daughter she once murdered to relieve her from the life she was destined to live. Sethe lives in this 'timeless present'. She abandons her responsibilities for the future, denver, she quits her job and spends her life-savings on clothes. Sethe has been beseiged with guilt, punished by her daughter and by herself. Only at the conclusion of the novel we believe this have been put to rest.
Paul D is also another charachter who is disturbed by his past and cant let go. The description of his past show the real suffering a slave endured. His experience in the Civil War, travel to the north and his time spent at sweet home and prision camp.Looking at Paul D as the narrative speaker, first the details of his past on sweethome Paul D gives us the groosem details of sixos death, and the Rooster living their who had more freedom then Paul D. He speaks about the 'Iron Bit' which was forced on him like he was an animal. After his travels he sent to jail for attempting to kill Mr.Brandywine. All of these memories are so painful their 'rusted shut' in his heart never to be released. This burden prevents him from moving on, having a life of his own or having a life with Sethe.
The reason I believe this to be significant is because it allows the reader to share the pain of their past lives and how it affects them in their present.This lets the reader feel as though their on this journey with Sethe and Paul D to overcome their past which gives the reader a deeper insight on the thoughts of Paul D and Sethe. Also realisticly showing how slaves living in this time period were effected by the past and its not something they could let go of easily as they were phsycologically scared. Toni Morrison shows how the past is very much alive and how both Sethe and Paul D are supressed with these memories but eventually together in the end of the novel let it be put to rest because they have;"more yesterday than anybody. We need some kinda tomorrow".
The effect of slavery on African Americans
In Beloved, Sethe demonstrates the theme of how slavery has affected the lives of African-Americans. Even after slavery, Sethe remains disturbed and fearful of her past. The experience has affected her mentally and emotionally as well. Because of this, Sethe attempts to forget her past but the memories of slavery are instilled in her everyday life. For example, the baby ghost of 124 Bluestone Road forces Sethe to be constantly reminded of killing her third child to save her from the fate of slavery. The chokecherry tree scars on her back is a physical reminiscent of her abused past – the scars caused by being whipped. Even the presence of Beloved triggers unwanted recollections, causing Sethe to become deeply depressed by the end of the book. Although Sethe herself does not explicitly talk about the theme, the emotions and thoughts she has implies it.
Sethe herself represents a society of post-slavery African-Americans, especially women. The murder of her child was not uncommon among other mother slaves. Many other African-American slaves killed their children to save them from living a slave’s life. The emotional pain Sethe endured after slavery would reflect other slaves’ emotions as well of trying to forget their past. The difficulties Sethe went through in attempt to forget could be applied to many other slaves, although not necessarily with the same factors.
Living in the past
One of the many of themes in beloved I believe to be is how the past lives of slaves live with them in their present, phsycologically effecting them. This is mainly seen through two paticular characters: Sethe and Paul D.
Narrator quotes speaking of Sethe ''her brain was not intrested in the future. Loaded with the past and hungry for more, it left her no room to imagine, let alone plan for more, the next day''
Toni Morrison writes the book so that the reader realises what sethe had to deal with growing up as slave, all her past history. In the context what all slaves during that time period had to live and cope with everyday they woke. But what I find most intresting is that Toni Morrison brings this ghost by the name of Beloved who is an embodiment of the past into her present. This highlights for the reader the burden of the past. In Sethe's case what haunts her most, is the act of infaticide she commited. When Beloved appears Sethe grows to fully believe that beloved is the daughter she once murdered to relieve her from the life she was destined to live. Sethe lives in this 'timeless present'. She abandons her responsibilities for the future, denver, she quits her job and spends her life-savings on clothes. Sethe has been beseiged with guilt, punished by her daughter and by herself. Only at the conclusion of the novel we believe this have been put to rest.
Paul D is also another charachter who is disturbed by his past and cant let go. The description of his past show the real suffering a slave endured. His experience in the Civil War, travel to the north and his time spent at sweet home and prision camp.Looking at Paul D as the narrative speaker, first the details of his past on sweethome Paul D gives us the groosem details of sixos death, and the Rooster living their who had more freedom then Paul D. He speaks about the 'Iron Bit' which was forced on him like he was an animal. After his travels he sent to jail for attempting to kill Mr.Brandywine. All of these memories are so painful their 'rusted shut' in his heart never to be released. This burden prevents him from moving on, having a life of his own or having a life with Sethe.
The reason I believe this to be significant is because it allows the reader to share the pain of their past lives and how it affects them in their present.This lets the reader feel as though their on this journey with Sethe and Paul D to overcome their past which gives the reader a deeper insight on the thoughts of Paul D and Sethe. Also realisticly showing how slaves living in this time period were effected by the past and its not something they could let go of easily as they were phsycologically scared. Toni Morrison shows how the past is very much alive and how both Sethe and Paul D are supressed with these memories but eventually together in the end of the novel let it be put to rest because they have;"more yesterday than anybody. We need some kinda tomorrow".